Level.



E. B. ADKFNS.

LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAIL, 19x6.

1,265 Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

A TT ORA/E Y ERNEST B. ADKINS, 0'3 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Nov. 28;, 1916.

Application filed January as, 1918. Serial No. 74,039.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ena'ns'r B. ADKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State ofUtah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Levels, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spirit levels of the type used by masons orcarpenters, and has for its object to provide a level, which may bequickly and accurately adjusted to true it within the wood in which itis mounted, and one which will not be affected and thrown out ofadjustment by the expansion and contraction of the wood, due tomoisture. These objects I accomplish with the device illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which similar letters and numerals of referenceindicate like parts throughout the several figures and as described inthe specification forming a part of this application and pointed out inthe appended claim.

In the drawings in which I have shown a substantial embodiment of myinvention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a masons level, having one of mydevices in the medial por tion and one in one end portion, and the otherend portion bored to receive another of my devices. Fig. 2 is a planview of the device somewhat enlarged from those shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a plan view with the glass and retaining washer removed. Fig. 4; is aplan view of the outer cylinder. Fig. 5

is a plan view of the inner cylinder. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of theinner cylinder, and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the outer cylinder.

In levels used by masons, the spirit level is mounted in a piece of woodcalled astraight edge, and preferably in one end portion. Heretofore thespirit levels used were held after adjustment, by means of screws, orother fastening means, which are affected by the expansion of the woodin which the level is mounted. In the present invention 1 mount an outercasing 1 in the wood, and if desirable three of my devices may be somounted with the end ones adjusted with the levels transverse, and thecenter level longitudinal of the straight edge, thus providing two, forplumb levels, and the center one for a horizontal level. The opening ain the straight edge is cut through the wood, and chamfered out at eachend with an annular concentric recess 6 to receive the annular washer13. The periphery of the opening a is also further out by the holes 0opening into said cut a and said holes are provided to receive thelugs 3on the outer cylinder to prevent rotation thereof. The said casing 1 iscylindrical in general outline and has integrally formed lugs 3 radiallyextended thereon to be placed in the open cuts a in the straight edge aspreviously explained. These lugs may be cylindrical in form on theirouter faces or cubular as desired and are tapped in their ends by theinternally threaded holes e. The edges or ends of said cylindrical case1 are cut out as at 2, on one end and as at 2, on the other end. Saidcuts 2 and 2 are in staggered relation to each other. The uncut portionof each edge is chamfered out by a concentric out as at 5 to receive theplate of glass C. An inner cylinder 6 is provided to operateconcentrically within said outer casing 1, and has integral radiallydisposed outwardly extended lugs 7 formed on one edge to operate in thecuts 2 and 2 as desired. An elongated are shaped slot 8 is provided ineach of said lugs 7 through which the screws 9 are passed and when saidscrews are turned into said holes l the said cylinders 1 and 6 are fixedin relation to each other. Diametrically disposed sleeves 10 are securedwithin said inner casing within which the spirit level 11 is rigidlyfastened.

The assembling and operation of my device are as followsz The casing 1is placed in the opening a which is so disposed that the lugs 3 are heldpractically at right angles and longitudinally with the straight edge A.The reason I say practically at right angles is because my spirit levelmay be adjusted, at true right angles, or longitudinally, with thestraight edge, whether the outer casing is absolutely true or not in itsrelation with the straight edge. The inner casing 6 is then insertedwithin said casing 1 with the lugs 7 at right angles to the planes to betrued, and bearing against.

the edge of the casing 1 within the recesses 2. A portion of said lugs 7also bears on the wood of the straight edge A. The said inner casing 6may be turned to the right or left suiliciently to true the spirit levelwith the straight edge, and when so adjusted the two casings are set bythe screws 9. The usual lines are provided on the upper side of thespirit level 11 to more accurately position the bubble of air 12. Ifafter the said casing 1 is set within the straight edge A, it should bedesired to adjust the spirit level 11 to determine planes at rightangles to the prior setting this may be readily done by withdrawing thecasing 6 from the casing 1 and placing the lugs 7 within the recesses 2and adjusting the spirit level by rotating the said inner casing on itsaxis and then setting or securing it in place by the screws 9.

For protection to the spirit level a plate of glass C is fastened as acover or closure in each end of the cylinder 1 by placing the said glassin the recess 5 and securing the annular washer 13 by means of screwspassing through said washer and seating in the threaded holes 4. Packingmay be used between the glass C and the contacting edges of thecylinders 1 and 6. To make the adjustment of the spirit level 11 withthe straight edge A, the glass C is removed, the screws 9 holding thelugs 7 loosened and the inner casing turned as required to the right orleft on its axis, and the glass fastened in place. The outer casing isnever moved after it is first placed in position and may be set incement, plaster of Paris or other cementitious material so that it willnot move. A slot 1% is cut in the wall of the inner casing 6 and athreaded hole 15 is provided in the wall of the outer casing 1 andthrough one of said lugs 3, and one of the set screws 9 may be insertedthrough the said slot and screwed into the alined hole 15 to secureCopies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner Washington, D. 0.

the said casing 6 in position after the spirit level is adjusted. Fromthe fact that the turning of the screw in the hole 15 must be from theinterior of the said casing and is not convenient I prefer the screws tobe used in the slots 8 for holding said adjustment when made.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patentand claim In an adjustable spirit level the combination of an outercylindrical casing having portions of each edge out out; outwardlyextending transversely disposed lugs integral therewith and havingthreaded holes therein; a concentrically disposed inner casing rotatablein said outer casing; radially disposed integral lugs outwardly extendedfrom one edge of said inner casing and having an are shaped elongatedslot in each and operable in the cuts in the edge of the outer casing;diametrically disposed sleeves secured within said inner casing to holda spirit level; set screws passed through said are shaped slots andseating in the threaded holes in said transverse lugs; and a glass plateand retaining washer secured on each of the ends of said outer casing.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of awitness.

ERNEST B. ADKINS.

lVitness SAM RANEY.

of Patent

